BYD Denza Z9GT, Close Competitor to Porsche Panamera, Set to Arrive in Europe
BYD Denza Z9GT--
BYD and Mercedes-Benz's joint venture, Denza, made waves in Europe with the unveiling of its Z9 GT shooting brake—a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) taking aim at rivals like the Porsche Panamera.
The Z9 GT is set to premiere at the Beijing Auto Show on April 25, with domestic sales slated to commence later this year before its expansion into the European market.
Denza's current lineup originated from its inception in 2010 as a collaborative effort between BYD and Mercedes-Benz. Initially, BYD focused on the technological aspects, while Mercedes-Benz handled the design.
Despite an underwhelming reception leading Mercedes-Benz to reduce its stake from 50% to 10% in 2021, BYD revitalized the Denza brand. The lineup currently includes the D9 minivan, as well as the N7 and N8 crossovers.
The forthcoming addition to the Denza family is the Z9 GT shooting brake, first glimpsed last fall near BYD's headquarters. Recently, Denza officially introduced the Z9 GT, heralding its global reach.
Denza chose Europe as the stage to reveal the Z9 GT, showcasing its sleek form adorned with distinctive camouflage. The model boasts a slender profile, a stylish roofline, and slim, elongated headlights, alongside retractable door handles and a sporty roof spoiler.
Photos shared by Denza highlight the Z9 GT beside prominent competitors like the Porsche Panamera and Ferrari GTC4Lusso, showcasing similar dimensions to the Panamera. Notably, the Panamera measures 5049/1937/1427 mm with a wheelbase of 2950 mm.
Although specifics regarding the Z9 GT's powertrain remain undisclosed, earlier references suggest it's a PHEV. Denza CEO Zhao Changjiang emphasized the Z9 GT's impressive performance, highlighting its successful completion of the moose test at 90 km/h and its superior interior space, comfort, and acceleration compared to the Panamera and S-Class.
The Z9 GT will debut at the Beijing Auto Show on April 25, with sales anticipated to commence later this year, followed by its expansion into the European market. Furthermore, Denza plans to introduce a sedan variant of the Z9 GT.
